Phoenix, Ariz., January 24, 2011. Every year, roadside workers and the motorists they are assisting are seriously injured or killed as a result of inadequate “Move Over” law protection. Today, the Senate Transportation Committee will consider SB 1133, a bill designed to reduce this risk by extending protection to roadside workers and the motorists they assist every day.

Introduced by Senator Nelson (R), SB 1133 would expand the current law to protect roadside assistance personnel and the motorists who have the unfortunate coincidence of becoming stranded on the side of the road.

“Under current law, motorists are required to ‘move over’ a lane of traffic, when safe to do so, in order to provide first responders adequate space to do their jobs safely,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona. “However, the current law fails to protect motorists who are stranded on the side of the road and personnel who risk their lives to assist these motorists every day.”

Arizona state law provides this life-saving protection to first responders, such as police and fire personnel. In fact, prior to the adoption of the law, eight Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers lost their lives while performing their roadside duties. No DPS patrol officer has been killed while aiding the public on the side of the road since the current law was adopted in 2005, according to the agency.

Nearly every state (49 states) has a law that requires drivers to slow down and, if safe, move over when passing an emergency vehicle that is actively working on a roadway. Of those states, 39 have comprehensive laws that include tow trucks and other road service vehicles. Arizona is not one of these states.

In August 2008, tow truck driver Jesse Gault and the motorist he was assisting were killed on State Route 202, when a heavy-equipment truck veered into them. In addition, in 2006, two tow truck drivers lost their lives on Arizona roadways while performing their roadside assistance duties. 

“Every day, AAA responds to more than 1,200 calls for roadside assistance across the state,” said Gorman. “These workers deserve adequate space to do their jobs safely. We owe them, and the motorists they are helping, this protection.”

AAA will track the progress of SB 1133, as well as other transportation bills being considered during the 2011 Arizona legislature at http://www.az.aaa.com/news/legislativenews.htm.